British WW2 Anti Hitler Propaganda Pamphlet "Ein Peinliches Versprechen" An Embarrassing Promise

From a small former intelligence officer's collection of original surviving WW2 psychological warfare propaganda leaflets we were delighted to acquire.

"ein peinliches versprechen". An air dropped propaganda leaflet pointing out that Hitler prophesied a German victory in 1941, as the Year of Final Victory. Undermining the Fuhrer Myth through Black Propaganda and clandestine means became the stated objective of the OSS.

Leaflets for propaganda, could be dropped by balloons and planes over enemy territory, or, distributed by hand when in occupied or allied territory. They was used heavily in both world wars by all sides. In World War II, special bombs were developed to disperse airborne leaflets. Used as a form of psychological warfare, these leaflets were dropped in enemy-controlled territory to incite fear, coerce surrender, or turn the populace against their leadership. This tactic proved to be largely ineffective, except when morale among troops was extremely low. Leaflet bombs are still used today in military warfare, as well as by radical political and ideological groups.

Toward the end of World War II, Germany dropped millions of propaganda leaflets on enemy lines to encourage troops to surrender. Some of these leaflets were tailored to African American soldiers and suggested they would be treated better as German prisoners of war than as citizens in their own country.

Nazi Germany was not known for its fair treatment of people of African descent, or any persons who weren’t Aryan. Black people were frequently vilified and deemed uncivilised in Nazi propaganda. Yet, Germany was willing to use any tactics necessary to avoid defeat, including highlighting American racism, to exploit existing tensions within the U.S. military..

Although these pamphlets were made in their tens of thousands almost all were destroyed either immediately or at the wars cessation, so few survive and mostly survive today in national archives or museums.

8.25 inches x 5.25 inches  read more

Code: 24498

A Most Interesting & Historical Nazi Propaganda Leaflet Written by Notorious British Nazi and Traitor, John Amery, Who Was Executed At the Wars End

From a small former intelligence officer's collection of original surviving WW2 psychological warfare propaganda leaflets we were delighted to acquire.
An anti-Semitic propaganda leaflet printed in English, by infamous traitor John Amery, the Amery family's black sheep fascist, and the son of Churchill's Secretary of state for India. It was intended for distribution to British soldiers and civilians, a double-sided propaganda leaflet, entitled "Why Die for Stalin? Why die for the Jews?" and authored by British fascist and propagandist JOHN AMERY (1912-1945), who was tried and executed for treason postwar. The leaflet features the usual conspiratorial pabulum explaining that British soldiers are dying fruitlessly for Jewish and communist interests in Italy, Burma and on the Atlantic, while attempting to explain the fruitlessness of hostilities between England and Germany.

Leaflets for propaganda, could be dropped by balloons and planes over enemy territory, or, distributed by hand when in occupied or allied territory. They was used heavily in both world wars by all sides. In World War II, special bombs were developed to disperse airborne leaflets. Used as a form of psychological warfare, these leaflets were dropped in enemy-controlled territory to incite fear, coerce surrender, or turn the populace against their leadership. This tactic proved to be largely ineffective, except when morale among troops was extremely low. Leaflet bombs are still used today in military warfare, as well as by radical political and ideological groups.

Toward the end of World War II, Germany dropped millions of propaganda leaflets on enemy lines to encourage troops to surrender. Some of these leaflets were tailored to African American soldiers and suggested they would be treated better as German prisoners of war than as citizens in their own country.

Nazi Germany was not known for its fair treatment of people of African descent, or any persons who weren’t Aryan. People of colour were frequently vilified and deemed uncivilised in Nazi propaganda. Yet, Germany was willing to use any tactics necessary to avoid defeat, including highlighting American racism, to exploit existing tensions within the U.S. military. And by the wars end they even encouraged foreign Muslims to join the dedicated Muslim waffen SS regiments, which in the 1930's would be unthinkable.

Although these pamphlets were made in their tens of thousands almost all were destroyed, either immediately on landing or at the wars cessation, so very few indeed survive and mostly survive today in national archives or museums.

On 22 June, the Second Armistice at Compiègne was signed between France and Germany. Amery resided in the territory belonging to the collaborationist Vichy government led by Marshal Philippe Pétain. However, his personality soon antagonised the Vichy Regime so he made several attempts to leave but was not allowed. The head of the German Armistice Commission offered Amery a chance to live in Germany to work in the political arena but he was unable to get Amery out of occupied France.

In September 1942, Hauptmann Werner Plack gained Amery the French travel permit he needed, and in October Plack and Amery travelled to Berlin to speak to the German English Committee. It was at this time that Amery suggested that the Germans consider forming a British anti-Bolshevik legion. Adolf Hitler was impressed by Amery and allowed him to remain in Germany as a guest. During this period, Amery made a series of pro-German propaganda radio broadcasts, attempting to appeal to the British people to join the war on communism.

British Free Corps
The idea of a British force to fight the communists languished until Amery encountered Jacques Doriot during a visit to France in January 1943. Doriot was part of the LVF (Légion des Volontaires Français), a French volunteer force fighting alongside the Germans on the eastern front.

Amery rekindled his idea of a British unit and aimed to recruit 50 to 100 men for propaganda purposes and to establish a core of men with which to attract additional members from British prisoners of war. He also suggested that such a unit could provide more recruits for the other military units made up of foreign nationals.
Amery's first recruiting drive for what was initially to be called the British Legion of St George took him to the Saint-Denis POW camp outside Paris. Amery addressed between 40 and 50 inmates from British Commonwealth countries and handed out recruiting material. This first effort at recruitment was a complete failure, but he persisted.

Amery's drive for recruits found two men, of whom only one, Kenneth Berry, joined what was later called the BFC. Amery's link to the unit ended in October 1943, when the Waffen SS decided his services were no longer needed, and it was officially renamed the British Free Corps.

Arrest
Amery continued to broadcast and write propaganda in Berlin until late 1944 when he travelled to Northern Italy to lend support to Italian dictator Benito Mussolini's Salò Republic. On 25 April 1945, Amery was captured along with his French mistress Michelle Thomas by Italian partisans from the Garibaldi Brigade near Como. Amery and Thomas were initially to be executed, but both of them were eventually sent to Milan, where they were handed over to Allied authorities. Amery was wearing the uniform of the "Muti Legion", a fascist paramilitary organisation. The British army officer who took him into custody was Captain Alan Whicker, later known as a broadcaster.

Trial and execution
Amery was tried for treason in London. In a preliminary hearing, he argued that he had never attacked Britain and was an anti-Communist, not a Nazi. At the same time, his brother Julian attempted to show that John had become a Spanish citizen, and therefore would legally be incapable of committing treason against the United Kingdom.

His counsel, Gerald Osborne Slade KC, meanwhile, tried to show that the accused was mentally ill. Amery's sanity was questioned by his own father, Leo, but all efforts to have the court consider his mental state were unsuccessful. Further attempts at a defence were suddenly abandoned on the first day of his trial, 28 November 1945, when to general astonishment, Amery pleaded guilty to eight charges of treason, and was sentenced to death. The trial lasted just eight minutes.

Before accepting Amery's guilty plea, the judge, Mr Justice Humphreys, made certain that Amery realised the only permissible penalty would be death by hanging. After satisfying himself that Amery fully understood the consequences of pleading guilty, the judge announced this verdict:

John Amery ... I am satisfied that you knew what you did and that you did it intentionally and deliberately after you had received warning from ... your fellow countrymen that the course you were pursuing amounted to high treason. They called you a traitor and you heard them; but in spite of that you continued in that course. You now stand a self-confessed traitor to your King and country, and you have forfeited your right to live.

Amery was hanged in Wandsworth Prison on 19 December 1945 by executioner Albert Pierrepoint, who in his autobiography described Amery as "the bravest person I'd ever hanged", and buried in the prison cemetery. Amery actually quipped as he was led to the scaffold, "I've always wanted to meet you, Mr Pierrepoint, though not of course under these circumstances!" In 1996, Julian Amery had his brother's remains exhumed and cremated, scattering his ashes in France.

5 1/2" x 8"  read more

Code: 24493

A Superb Condition and Very Rare WW2 1943 Published Nazi & Vichy-French Propaganda Leaflet, Titled INTUITION With Swastikas and Portrait Photo of Adolf Hitler. Four Pages, Folded

From a small former intelligence officer's collection of original surviving WW2 psychological warfare propaganda leaflets we were delighted to acquire.

With photographs and propaganda quotes from such as Hitler, Goering, and Mussolini, showing the fallacy of their statements

For example; "Le mot dordre de la luftwaffe pour 1940 est; victoire"

translation "The Luftwaffe watchword for 1940 is; victory"
Goering 31st December 1939

"l'amitie entre italiens et allemands deviant tous les jours profinde"

translation "the friendship between Italians and Germans becoming deep every day"
Mussolini 2 December 1942

Leaflets for propaganda, could be dropped by balloons and planes over enemy territory, or, distributed by hand when in occupied or allied territory. They was used heavily in both world wars by all sides. In World War II, special bombs were developed to disperse airborne leaflets. Used as a form of psychological warfare, these leaflets were dropped in enemy-controlled territory to incite fear, coerce surrender, or turn the populace against their leadership. This tactic proved to be largely ineffective, except when morale among troops was extremely low. Leaflet bombs are still used today in military warfare, as well as by radical political and ideological groups.

Toward the end of World War II, Germany dropped millions of propaganda leaflets on enemy lines to encourage troops to surrender. Some of these leaflets were tailored to African American soldiers and suggested they would be treated better as German prisoners of war than as citizens in their own country.

Nazi Germany was not known for its fair treatment of people of African descent, or any persons who weren’t Aryan. Black people were frequently vilified and deemed uncivilised in Nazi propaganda. Yet, Germany was willing to use any tactics necessary to avoid defeat, including highlighting American racism, to exploit existing tensions within the U.S. military..

Although these pamphlets were made in their tens of thousands almost all were destroyed either immediately or at the wars cessation, so very few survive and mostly survive today in national archives or museums.

This one is particularly rare, in fact we haven't seen a surviving example before, certainly not in the past 50 years.

This is also a large size some could be only a few inches in size.
16.25 inches x 10.5 inches un-folded open.

 read more

Code: 24491

German WW2 Kriegsmarine Weapons Control Foreman Speciality Trade Badge

Sonderausbildung Abzeichen für Waffenleitvormann Truppen Ausbildung summer service rig.
On entering Kriegsmarine service all personnel were assigned and trained for a specific career. These careers consisted of a wide variety of speciality trades and functions with some of the careers restricted to certain rank groups. On successful completion of the appropriate training, personnel were issued distinctive career insignia to be worn on the upper left sleeve of the uniforms. For EM/NCO’s the career insignia could be worn combined with the rank insignia or as separate insignia. Enlisted ranks of Matrose up to and including Hauptgefreiter career insignia were generally embroidered on small round bases while NCO ranks of Maat up to and including Oberdeckoffizier career insignia were on larger, vertically oval bases and could come in embroidered or stamped alloy versions. Regulations dictated that the base colour of the insignia was to match the colour of the uniform it was worn on. Of Note: Rank designations were tied to the career the individual was assigned to. The insignia consists of a vertically oval, light weight, ribbed white cotton/rayon blend base with machine embroidered, upward and downward pointing, arrow dial heads superimposed on a circular base with staggered, outer graduation bars, all in bright red cotton threads, with larger red chevron. The outer edge of the white cotton/rayon base has a narrow white rayon reinforcement strip machine stitched in place.  read more

Code: 24497

Native American Plains Indian Stone War-Club Hunting-Maul, Wood Handle Raw Hide Bound

Basalt stone head, held and bound with rawhide with tassles and a small tail of beadwork. Possibly, Lakota, Dakota, Nakoda style. Known as an iwatajinga, they can have conical pointed stone heads, right through to round stone heads. The term Nakota (or Nakoda or Nakona) is the endonym used by those native peoples of North America who usually go by the name of Assiniboine (or Hohe), in the United States, and of Stoney, in Canada.

They are Dakotan-speaking tribes that broke away from the main branches of the Sioux nation in earlier times. They moved farther from the original territory in the woodlands of what is now Minnesota into the northern and northwestern regions: Montana and North Dakota in the United States, and Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta in Canada. Later they became competitors for resources and enemies of their former language-family "allies". (In each of the dialects, nakota, dakota and lakota means "friend" or "ally".).
Probably late 19th early 20th century. 19 inches long, stone head 4.75 inches across.  read more

Code: 23688

A Wonderful 18th Century French Small-Sword of Parcel Gilt and Blued Steel

A stunning museum grade sword, worthy of a finest collection of 18th century fine art and furnishings. Likely made at Versailles by a Royal swordsmith of King Louis XVIth, such as the master swordsmiths of the king, Lecourt, Liger or Guilman. A very finest grade sword of the form as was made for the king to present to favoured nobles and friends. He presented a similar sword to John Paul Jones [see painting in the gallery] now in the US Naval Academy Museum. Three near identical swords to this now reside in the Metropolitan A simply superb small-sword, with stunningly engraved chiselled steel hilt, overlaid with pure gold over a fish-roe background,, decorated with hand chiselled scenes in the rococo Italianate renaissance style depicting various hunting scenes, of hunting hounds and game birds. The multi wire spiral bound grip is finest silver, in with Turks head finials. The blade is in the typical trefoil form, ideal for the gentleman's art of duelling. The degree of craftsmanship of this spectacular sword is simply astounding, worthy of significant admiration, it reveals an incredible attention to detail and the skill of it's execution is second to none. Other similar swords are in also in the British Royal Collection and in Les Invalides in Paris. Trefoil bladed swords had a special popularity with the officers of the French and Indian War period. Even George Washington had a very fine one just as this example. For example of the workmanship in creating this sword for such as the King and Marie Antoinette we show the keys for the Louis XVI Secretary Desk (Circa 1783) made for Marie-Antoinette by Jean Henri Riesener, one of the worlds finest cabinetmakers, and whose works of furniture are the most valuable in the world. The steel and gold metalwork key for Marie Antoinette's desk, is attributed to Pierre Gouthi?re (1732?1813), the most famous Parisian bronzeworker of the late eighteenth century who became gilder to the king in 1767. This sword bears identical workmanship and style to that magnificent key. This is the quality of sword one might have expected find inscribed upon the blade 'Ex Dono Regis' [given by the King]. Very good condition overall, with natural aged patination throughout. This painting, entitled John Paul Jones and Louis XVI, by the American artist Jean Leon Gerome Ferris depicts John Paul Jones and Benjamin Franklin at the court of Louis XVIth and being presented a similar sword now in US Naval Academy Museum. 39.1/4 inches long overall.  read more

Code: 23138

A Very Desirable Early Neck Ribbon for a German WW2 Knight's Cross of the War Merit Cross

In two pieces. An extremely useful ribbon if one had a Knights Cross of the war Merit Cross lacking its ribbon. New replacement reproduction ribbon is available and relatively inexpensive, but old, early ribbon is another matter entirely.

The Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross was considered to be ranked higher than the German Cross in silver, but below the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross. A medal now valued between £4,000 to £10,000. A total of 118 awards of the Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross with swords, and 137 awards without swords were awarded. Considering the relative rarity of the award compared with the grades of the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross, it took on "extra meaning" it did not necessarily deserve, as it ranked below the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross. For example, Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring made a concerted effort to get Hitler to award him this order, much to Hitler's annoyance. In response, Hitler outlined a series of criteria governing the awarding of this decoration and the philosophy of such awards, and directed that "prominent party comrades" were not to be awarded with the Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross (or similar decorations), and withdrew the proposed awards of this order to Gauleiter Erich Koch and Herbert Backe. Directing his comments at Göring personally, Hitler ordered that such attempts to gain this award be stopped. Also, six persons received two Knights Crosses of the War Merit Cross (each one with and without Swords): Walter Brugmann, Julius Dorpmüller, Karl-Otto Saur, Albin Sawatzki, Walter Schreiber, and Walter Rohlandt.  read more

Code: 24490

A Most Interesting & Scarce Vintage Patrolman's Police Shield Arvida Police. Numbered II

A now defunct force. In very good condition overall , with a panel at the base front. Bears the central affixed number, II. With central north-south affixing pin with rotating safety fixing.  read more

Code: 24488

An Invitation From the Duke of Wellington To Lt Gen Bourchier of Waterloo For the Waterloo Banquet at Apsley House

We now have for sale the portrait, after Salter, of Col. Charles Dance [then Capt.] of the 23rd Light Dragoons, who appears in the large Salter painting [see the painting in the gallery] of the Waterloo Banquet. The full portraits by Salter of the officers attending the banquet were painted prior to the banquet in order for Salter to render them accuratelywithin the great banquet portrait. As a young Captain/Major Lt General Bourchier served in the 11th Light Dragoons in the Peninsular War and with distinguished heroism at Waterloo. For his bravery he was awarded a gold medal and promoted by Wellington to Brevet Lt. Colonel and later became the Colonel of the 3rd Dragoon Guards. His son was awarded the Victoria Cross aged 23 for service in the Crimean War. This personal invitation from Wellington is to attend the special Waterloo anniversary dinner at Apsley House. We also had the 1796 pattern sabre [now sold] made for the IIth Light Dragoons. The 11th Light Dragoons [later became the 11th Hussars]. The 11th fought at both the Peninsular War and at the Battle of Waterloo, and were awarded almost 500 medals for Waterloo. After a spell in Ireland the 11th were sent to Spain and Portugal to reinforce Wellington's army. Their strength, normally around 300 in peacetime was raised to 725. They arrived in June 1811 and, as in Egypt, they had a bad start. A dawn attack by the French in woods between Elvas and the Guadiana forced the 11th to retire on to what they thought were friendly portugese lines. When they realised they were French, their commander Capt Lutyens ordered the charge. The shock tactic worked and they were able to drive their way through, but a second line of enemy troops was able to resist them. They lost 8 killed, 22 wounded and 77 taken prisoner.
The regiment had more success at El Bodon near Cuidad Rodrigo on 25th September. By this time they were commanded by Lt Col Cumming, a brave and efficient cavalry officer. A large force of French cavalry was threatening Allied infantry and artillery on the plain in front of the 11th and a squardon of the King's German Legion who were well placed on high ground. Although they were vastely outnumbered the 11th and KGL charged at the enemy again and again, 20 times in all.

The 11th were part of Wellington's great victory over Marmont at Salamanca on 22nd July 1812 but by 3rd April 1813 they had to give up their horses and embark for England much to the regret of Sir Stapleton Cotton who was in command of the cavalry in the Peninsula. It had been a hard two years for them having lost 417 men and 555 horses.

During their time in the Peninsula many changes had been made to the uniforms of the British Army. The Prince Regent had a keen eye for dress and with his newly acquired position of supreme power was determined to push through his ideas dased on continental military trends. The 11th exchanged it's light dragoon Tarleton helmet for a shako. The new jacket was still dark blue but had a buff plastron covering the chest, and white epaulettes, silver for officers. With the return of Napoleon in March 1815 the war with France resumed and the 11th arrived at Ostend on 2nd April. They were in Vandeleur's brigade with the 12th and 16th and had an unprecedented strength of 947 men. They came under heavy attack at Quatre Bras but did not suffer badly. On the 18th June 1815 the Battle of Waterloo began after a terrible night of torrential rain. It was a frustrating morning for the British cavalry who had to stand and watch an infantry battle. Against Wellington's wishes, the heavy cavalry made a brilliant charge that was spoiled by it's failure to re-form. The 11th under the command of Lt Col Money were sent into action when it looked as if the enemy were breaking up. They broke a French infantry square and carried on with the pursuit of Naploeon's fleeing soldiers.
Wellington entered Paris in triumph on 7th July escorted by the 11th and others. The regiment bivouacked on the Champs Elysees and became part of the army of occupation in France and Belgium. On 20th November they eventually arrived home after 3 years on the continent  read more

Code: 19367

A Vintage Original Royal Naval Issue Deck Knife By Nowill & Son Ordnance Stamped

Very similar to to the American EK Commando knife. In scabbard and with naval roping.  read more

Code: 17581